Soldier Dead in South Korea Was in 'Land Navigation Training'

American soldier Spc. Michael William Corey was found dead on Monday after taking part in a training exercise in South Korea and the cause remained under investigation.

Corey's body was found at the edge of Camp Jackson, north of Seoul, by members of the public, reported The Independent. U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement that Corey "died while conducting land navigation training" at the camp.

Corey, from Oro Valley, Arizona, was stationed at Camp Zama near Tokyo with the 441st Military Intelligence Battalion, but was training in South Korea at the time of his death,

Corey's mother, Mary Corey, told the Arizona Daily Star that she was informed Monday of her son's death.

"I knew that it was not good," Mary Corey said about seeing military officials at her door on Monday. "They said he was out on a field mission. He was by himself in training. They gave him a compass and a map, and during the mission he fell and hit his head. He was found by Korean nationals."

Mary Corey said she was supposed to meet again with Army officials on Friday and hopes to find out more answers to the circumstances surrounding her son's death. She said officials told her that an investigation into her son's death could be concluded in August.

"Michael was always the kind of person who wanted to be first," said Mary Corey. "He was thoughtful, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was responsible and conscientious,"

Camp Jackson conducts training for non-commissioned officers run by the Eighth Army, noted The Independent. The United States has 28,500 American soldiers in South Korea, maintaining a military presence there since the end of the Korean War.
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